Opportunity Scholarship Program FAQ
The Opportunity Scholarship Program (Program) is administered by the North Carolina State Education
Assistance Authority (SEAA).
Contact information for the Program:
Phone:
1-855-330-3955 (toll-free)
Email:
OpportunityScholarships@ncseaa.edu
Fax:
919-248-4687
Website:
http://www.ncseaa.edu/OSG.htm
Quick Access to FAQ Categories:
Eligibility Questions
Application Questions
Award Questions
Verification Questions
Additional Questions
Eligibility Questions
Who is eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship?
To receive an Opportunity Scholarship, a student must meet the criteria below:
The student must meet all of these four criteria:
1. Live in a household that meets the Income Eligibility Guidelines established by the Program;
2. Enroll in a participating nonpublic school in North Carolina;
3. Does not have a high school diploma; and
4. Be 5 on or before August 31.
And the student must meet one of the following criteria:
1. Be assigned to and attend a North Carolina public school for the spring semester;
2. Have received an Opportunity Scholarship during the previous school year;
3. Will be entering kindergarten or the first grade;
4. Is a foster child; or
5. Has been adopted within the last year.
Are preschool children eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship?
No.
My student already attends school in a nonpublic school setting. Is my student eligible for an
Opportunity Scholarship?
Generally no. Your student is only eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship if he or she received an
Opportunity Scholarship the previous school year, will be enrolling in kindergarten or first grade, is a
foster child, or was adopted within the last year and meets other Program eligibility requirements.
My student is a foster child. Does he or she automatically qualify for an Opportunity Scholarship?
No, but a foster child can already be enrolled in a nonpublic school and still be eligible for an
Opportunity Scholarship. A foster child’s household must meet the Opportunity Scholarship Program
Income Eligibility Guidelines.
My student attended kindergarten at a nonpublic school and will be in first grade the following school
year. Is he or she still eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship?
Yes, if the student meets all the other eligibility criteria.
Can my student receive an Opportunity Scholarship if we plan to home school?
No.
The student’s parents have joint custody and the student lives with both parents. How is eligibility
determined?
When joint custody has been awarded by a court, the student is considered part of the household where
he or she resides. If the student resides in more than one household, or has recently changed his or her
residence, the student is eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship if either parent’s income meets the
Opportunity Scholarship Program Income Eligibility Guidelines. Income eligibility for an Opportunity
Scholarship will be based on the income of the household that is reported on the application.
Does the Program have sibling priority?
No.
Does my student’s school have to be located in North Carolina?
Yes. The school must be located in North Carolina.
How do I know what schools are participating in the Program?
You can find a list of participating schools here.
Do I have to apply to the school too?
Yes. The Program application is only for the Opportunity Scholarship.
What does a school have to do to be on the list of participating schools?
The school must be identified by the Division of Nonpublic Education and complete the Program
registration process.
Do I have to be a North Carolina resident?
Yes.
Does the student have to be a North Carolina resident?
Yes.
Are homeless students eligible to apply for an Opportunity Scholarship?
Yes. A parent must apply for the student. You can see who qualifies as a parent here. Contact the
Opportunity Scholarship staff for help in completing your application, especially if you need help
providing an address.
Can my student be eligible for both a grant from the Disabilities Grant Program and an Opportunity
Scholarship?
Yes, if the student meets the eligibility criteria for each program. Information about the Disabilities
Grant program is available here.
My student receives a scholarship from the school. Is my student still eligible for an Opportunity
Scholarship?
Yes, if you are responsible for tuition, required fees, and other required expenses in addition to the
school scholarship. The amount of the Opportunity Scholarship cannot exceed the amount of tuition,
required fees and other required expenses which you must pay.
My student receives free or reduced lunch. Does he or she automatically qualify for an Opportunity
Scholarship?
No, not automatically. The student’s household must meet the Opportunity Scholarship Program
Income Eligibility Guidelines.
Application Questions
When can I apply for an Opportunity Scholarship?
Applications for new and renewal students will be available by February 1.
Is there more than one application for the Program?
Yes. There are two applications. There is a renewal application for students who received an
Opportunity Scholarship the previous school year on the student’s Opportunity Scholarship Portal. There
is an application for new students that you can find on the website.

New Applicants
o How do I apply for an Opportunity Scholarship?
Complete the online application available on the website: http://www.ncseaa.edu/OSG.htm
o Is there a deadline for new students to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship?
The priority application deadline is March 1. All Opportunity Scholarship Program applications
that meet the eligibility criteria and are submitted by midnight on March 1 will be entered into a
lottery and recipients will be randomly selected from that pool of applications. If a parent
submits an application for more than one student; the parent’s name will be entered once and,
if the parent’s application is selected, all eligible students included on that application will be
eligible for funding.
o What happens if I do not complete an application by March 1?
Applications received after March 1 will be placed on a waitlist. If there are any remaining funds
after the lottery, awards will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis from the waitlist.

Renewals
o My student received an Opportunity Scholarship for the spring semester. Do I
need to fill out an application for the following school year?
Yes. You need to complete a renewal application. You can complete the renewal application on
the student’s Opportunity Scholarship Portal.
o Do I need to fill out a renewal application for each student in my household?
Yes. You must fill out a separate renewal application for each of the students in your household
who received an Opportunity Scholarship the previous school year.
o Is there a deadline to complete a renewal application?
Yes. To receive renewal priority for an Opportunity Scholarship, you must complete the Program
renewal application by midnight March 1.
o What happens if I do not complete a renewal application by midnight on March 1?
Your student will not be guaranteed to receive an Opportunity Scholarship. Eligible applicants
who complete a renewal after the deadline will be put on a waitlist on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Who can complete the application or a renewal for an Opportunity Scholarship?
A parent or guardian must complete the application or renewal. You can read the definition of who
qualifies as a parent here.
I am the student’s grandparent. Can I fill out the application or a renewal for my grandchild?
Yes, if you are acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent and the student lives with you. You may
read the definition of parent here.
What information do I need to apply?
You will need to provide your annual household income, which includes the income for all members of
your household. This worksheet will help you calculate your household income.
Who should I include as members of my household?
You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other
relatives or friends) who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children living
with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent (for example, people who you
do not support or who do not share income with you or your children), do not include them.
We are in the military. Do we include our housing allowance as income?
If you get an off-base housing allowance, it must be included as income. However, if your housing is part
of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income.
My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is her combat pay counted as income?
No, if the combat pay is received in addition to her basic pay because of her deployment and it was not
received before she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income.
Do I have to know which school my student will attend when I complete the application?
No. The application asks for the school that you student will attend, if known. If you do not know what
school your child will attend, choose “unknown” and continue with the application.
My student’s school is not listed on the application. Why not?
Your school is not participating in the Program. Contact your school and ask the school why it is not
participating.
Award Questions
How will I find out if my student is selected to receive an Opportunity Scholarship?
The Program lottery will be held in March. Families will be notified of the results by email beginning
March 31. You can check the Opportunity Scholarship Student Portal at any time for information about
your application. The Program lottery results will be posted on the Opportunity Scholarship Student
Portal.
What happens if there is not enough money for all of the applicants?
If the number of eligible applications exceeds the amount of funding, a lottery will be used to choose
recipients.
Will my student get an Opportunity Scholarship every year?
First priority will be given to students who received an Opportunity Scholarship during the previous
school year, reapply by March 1, and continue to meet the eligibility criteria. In addition, funding for the
Opportunity Scholarship Program is contingent upon sufficient appropriations by the North Carolina
General Assembly.
Are there other priorities for selecting Opportunity Scholarship recipients?
Yes. The Program statutes establish a series of priorities. First priority is for students who received an
Opportunity Scholarship the previous school year. Certain priority is given to applicants who have the
most financial need. There are limitations on the percent of Opportunity Scholarships for kindergarten
and first grade students.
Where is the Opportunity Scholarship Portal?
You will receive an email with a link to the Opportunity Scholarship Student Portal and directions for
accessing it. If you did not receive that email message, contact the Program at
OpportunityScholarships@ncseaa.edu for help.
Where is the Opportunity Scholarship ID I need to access the portal?
You will receive your Opportunity Scholarship ID in an email which will direct you to the portal. If you do
not receive that email, or cannot find it, contact the Program.
What is the amount of the Opportunity Scholarship?
The maximum amount of the Opportunity Scholarship is $4,200. The amount of the Opportunity
Scholarship depends on household income, the amount of the student’s tuition and required fees, and
any other financial aid the student receives. The Opportunity Scholarship will be paid twice a year, so if
the student’s maximum amount is $4,200, the student will receive two payments of $2,100.
How will I receive the money from the Opportunity Scholarship?
The Opportunity Scholarship will be sent directly to your student’s school. The student’s parent or
guardian is required to restrictively endorse the payment in person at the student’s school before the
electronic fund transfer process is complete. The Program will provide an endorsement form to the
student’s school for the parent to sign.
How can I endorse the payment if I cannot go to my student’s school?
You may designate someone else as your attorney-in-fact to endorse the payment for you so long as
your attorney-in-fact is not associated with the school.
How does the Program know the required tuition, fees and other costs at the student’s school?
Each school is required to provide the Program with documentation of its tuition, fees, and other
required expenses.
My student receives an Opportunity Scholarship. Can he transfer to a different school and still receive
the Opportunity Scholarship?
A student who transfers to another participating school may be eligible for a pro-rata share of the
Opportunity Scholarship. Contact the Program before your student transfers to determine if your
student is eligible for any additional funds.
Verification Questions
What happens if I do not want to share private and confidential information with the Program?
You may not receive the Opportunity Scholarship if you do not allow the Program to verify information
and other information on your application.
Will the information I give be checked?
All applications will be reviewed to see if students meet the eligibility criteria. In addition, a percentage
of the applications will be randomly selected to be verified, requiring families to provide documentation
for items such as income, school enrollment, and household members.
How do I know if I have been randomly selected to be verified?
You will receive an email informing you that you have been selected for verification and asking you for
additional information. In addition, you can look on the Opportunity Scholarship Portal to see if you
were selected for verification, and if so, what documents are needed.
I was randomly selected for verification. Where do I send the information the Program wants?
The most secure way to send us your documents is by uploading them in the Opportunity Scholarship
Student Portal. You can also email them to OpportunityScholarships@ncseaa.edu or fax them to (919)
248-4687.
I was randomly selected for verification. What tax information does the Program need?
You must submit a copy of your last tax return. You can get a free copy of your tax return online at
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript . Any member of the household who filed taxes must
submit these documents to the Program. You must also submit either W-2s or 1099s. Again, all
household members must submit these documents.
I was randomly selected for verification. I didn’t file any taxes. What should I do?
If you were not required to file taxes, please note that in the comments section of the verification form
(Section 4 – Comments). Be sure to upload any W2s or 1099s. Remember that for verification purposes,
we need tax information from all members of your household.
How can I be sure the Program has received my documents?
After you upload a document, you will automatically receive an email message confirming receipt of
your document. In addition, when you access the Opportunity Scholarship Portal, you will see the name
of the document you uploaded and the date you uploaded it.
Additional Questions
Does the Program have a discrimination policy?
The Program statutes provide that participating schools may not discriminate with respect to race, color,
or national origin.
Are Program records a public record?
No. Personally identifiable information from applications and schools are not a public record. Personally
identifiable information means any information directly related to a student or a member of the
student’s household, including the name, birthdate, address, Social Security number, telephone
number, e-mail address, financial information, or any other information or identification number that
would provide information about a specific student or members of a specific student’s household.